Apparatus and process for fabricating spring assemblies



Jan. 17, 192,8.

c. ELKARR` APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR FABRICATING SPRING ASSEMBLIES ssheets-sheet 1 Filed Sept. @l N+ Xi vl wir@ 3 Sheets-Sheet .2.

S www Nm 'NE Jari. 17, 1928.

C. D. KARR APPARATUS yAND PROCESS FOR FABRICATING SPRING ASSEMBLIESFiled Sept. 30. 1926 Jan. 17, 1928.

` 1,656,204 C. D. KARR APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR FABRICATING SPRINGASSEMBLIES Filed Sept.v 30. 1926 im 2z? 11 14 25 2125 Patented Jan. 17,

UNITED STATES u CHARLES D. KAB, F HOLLAND, MICHIGAN.

APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR FABBICATIN G SPRING ABSEHDLIES.

Application fed September 30, 1928. Serial No. 188,742.

This invention relates to the process and apparatus for fabricatingspring assemblies.

-One of the objectsof the invention isv the provision of a new andimproved method of weaving or fabricating spring assemblies.

Another object of the invention is the provision of anew and improvedmechanism for assembling springs to form cushion and mattress sprinassemblies and the like.

A further o ject of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedapparatus for connecting an assembly of spiral springs together byweaving, ythreading .or interlocking helical springs therewith.

Another object of the Vinvention is the provision of new and improvedlmeans for fabricating spring assemblies, thatis simple in construction,cheap to manufacture, easily assembled,l eiiicient in operation,composed of few moving parts, and that is not likely to become broken orget out of order.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appearfrom the following description taken in connection with the.accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan View of the device with`parts broken away; j

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the lin 2 2 of Fig. i;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 11-4 of Fig. 1 with parts brokenaway;

Fig. 5 isa plan view ofv a portion of the spring retaining platform ormember 'with a spring assembly in position thereon; y

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the c onsti'uction shown in Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the spacing members.

In the form of the device selected to illustrate one embodiment ot theinvention, the

numeral 10 ydesignates the base or support-v ing frame on which theoperating mechanism is mount-ed. The operating mechanism comprises aspring retaining plate, bed or platform l1 for'holding ythe springs inposition during the operation, a spring feeding device 12 and theweaving mechanism designated generally by the reference chai'- acter 13.

The spring retaining plate 11, which it desired may be integral with thelateral extension 14 of the base 1() but is shown as being mountedthereon, is provided with suitable means for holding the spiral springsportions 21fof the opposite spring in i 15 in position while theassembly is being fabricated. Any suitable means may be emplo ed forthis purpose'. The form shown is y Way of example only and comprisesprojections 16 arranged in rows transversely to t e weavingmechanism`13.

The form or shape of these projections will depend on the form of theterminal loops of-the spiral springs that are being operated upon. Inthe form shown, the terminal loops or coils are angular. Consevquentlythe spring retaining lugs or projections lare angular and the side wallsof these lu `are undercut as shown at 17 whereby w en the terminal coilsare eX- panded to engage said lugs, the coils will be retained inupright position.

The arrangement of the lugs or projections will also be determined moreor less by the form or shape of the spiral springs employed infabricating the assembly. They must, of course, be arranged in rowstransversely to the weavingmechanism in order that the helical springs20 may be woven about the end or terminal coils 18 of the spiral springsl5, as will presently appear.

In the form of the spiral springs disclosed, the terminal coils 18 areangular and each 1s provided with an odset straight portion 19 and withan angular straight portion 21 at the opposite side of the coil wherebyin assembling the springs the angular portion 21 of one spring will bearranged opposite the offset portion of an adjacent spring so that thestraight portions 22 and 23 at each side of the offset 19 of eachspring(see Fig. 5) will be in alinement lwith the straight jacent row forreceiving the helical spring 20.' The lugs or projections 16 are cutaway to provide suiiicient space to accommodate the helical coils 2Oabout the straight portions 21 of the springs 15. The use of springs ofthis type, therefore, requires that the spring holding or retainingmeans or lugs be also arranged in rows extending longitudinally of saidweaving mechanism.

Grooves 25 may also be provided between the transversely extending rowsfor guiding the helical springs 20 during the weaving operation. Thedepth of these grooves or their elimination entirely,` will depend onthe height at which the springs are supported by the retaining means.

Suitable means are provided for weaving or threading the helical springs20 about the ad- A the terminal coils of the springs 15. One form ofmechanism for accomplishing this function will now be described. Themechanism comprises essentially an endless belt which is adapted tofrictionally engage the helical springs to cause the same to rotate andbe threaded or woven onto those portions of the springs supported in thepath of the helicals.V

As shown, the base10 vis provided at each end with supporting arms250,within which areirotat'ably' mounted the rollers 26 and 27 about whichis-trained an endless belt 429. The belt 29 isoperated by any suitablemechanism as'by the pulley 30 on shaft 40 of the roller`27. The upperand lower runs of the beltf29 are held in parallel relation adjacent toeach other by apair of rollers 31 and 32 adjacent to the roller 26 and apair of rollers 33 and 34, adjacent to the roller 27. Suitable meansmay, ifO desired, be provided for adjusting the rollers of each pairtoward and fromeach other as may be necessary or desirable.

The upper and lower runs of the belt are hel-d in spaced relation bysuitable spacer members. As shown, the spacer members or fingers 35 and36 are rigidly secured to a body portion 39 which is offset downwardlyfrom said fingers and is rigidly secured to the lateral extension 41 ofthe supporting frame 10, see Fig. 2. These spacer members or fingers arespaced apart a distance slightly greater than the diameter of thehelical springs 20 and their thickness is slightly less than thediameter of said helical springs whereby the belt will engage thehelical springs at each side of said-spacers for rotating the same aswill presently appear. The outer fingers 36 yare shown as being verynarrow. If desired, a plurality of narrow fingers may be employedinstead of the wide intermediate ones. The attached ends of the spacersare tapered as at 42, that is, thickened at their inner or supportingends to cause the upper and lower runs of the belt to flare outwardly)for forming funnel shaped openings for receiving the ends of thehelical springs from the feeding mechanism. The inner or supporting endsof the fingers also have their adjacent edges bevelled as shown at 28 asclearly shown in Figs. 1 and 7 for guiding the helical springs to thespaces 51 between the fingers as will presently appear. The number ofspacers employed will depend on the number of helical springs necessaryfor fabricating the spring assembly.

Means are provided for feeding or delivering the helical springsv to theweaving mechanism. Preferably this device comprises a box like member 43which is adapted to be slid to and fromthe weaving mechanism on theguides 44. The member 43 preferably comprises a lower section 45 .and

an upper section 46, see Fig. 4, which is hinged to the lower section atone-side b hinges 47. The lower section is provided with grooves 48, onefor each helical to be used. Each groove is provided with a pin 49arranged across the groove at the angle of the i engagement with thehelical springs. As

shown, a roller 50 is mounted'at each side of the space between thefingers and a roller at each side of this space below the belt forholding both runs of the belt against the corresponding spring. rlherollers 31, 32, 33 and 34 at each end of the belt are sutiiciently closeto the end springs as to permit the end rollers 50 and 60 to bedispensed with. pered at their ends adjacent to the thickencd ends ofthe belt edges to flare outwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Theirouter ends are journaled in suitable plates 62 and 63 and their innerends are journaled, the lower rollers in the vertical connecting portionof the spacer support and the upper rollers in lugs 64 on the fingers35.

In the operation of the device, the helicals are placed in the grooves48 with their ends extending inwardly or forwardly beyond the forwardend of the boX member, the weaving mechanism is started, and the boxmember 43 is pushed forwardly to insert the ends of the helicals betweenthe flaring sides of the belt 29. As soon as the ends of the helicalscome in contact with either or both runs of the belt, they will-berotated by the movement of said belt and the engagement of the coils ofthe helical with the pins 49 will cause the-helicals to advance acrossthe belt into the alined grooves 25 in the spring holding device 11 forengaging the straight portions 23, 21 and 22 of said springs.

The belt 29 lmay be of any suitable width but its width must be lessthan the length of the helicals in order that they may reach from thepins 49 into engagement with the spirals, otherwise there would be nomeans for advancing said helicals. As` soon as the helicals engage theterminal coils of the spirals, they will be advanced along the grooves25 and be woven about the straight The rollers 50 and 60 are tathelingers as at 61 to permit portions 23, 21 and 22 of said spirals untilhelicals arey woven about the terminal coilsv of the spirals 15simultaneously. Should any helical become ainmed or blocked temporarisly, it will not interfere with the movements of the: remaining ones.After the cause has been removed, it may be woven linto position.

After-the helicals have been applied to oney acted by the tendency tomove the same in the opposite direction by the other i'un of the belt,hence in this formof the construction it is not necessary to provide theweaving.v

mechanism with means for guiding the helicals.

It is preferable, however, to provide guides such asy the spaces betweenthe lingers 25,

. 26 in order that the helicals may be properly guided, whether they beengaged by one or both rims of the belt. f,

While in the form of the device shown on the drawing the helicals are`advanced between the runs of the belt, it is understood that the'construction may be otherwise, it being only necessary that one or bothruns of the belt engage the he'licals for rotating the saine. Y

While the apparatus is disclosed as being employed for connecting spiralsprings by weaving helicals about straight portions of the same, it isunderstood that the form of the springs and the shape of the connectingportions are immaterial as springs or wire units of any type may beassembled by arranging the springs or wire units in such a mannerthatportions of the saine may be held in the paths of the advancinghelicals.

y It is thought from the foregoing taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings that the construction and operation of my devicewill be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that various changesin size, shape, proportion and detai'ls of construction may' be madewithout departing vfrom the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A method of fabricating spring structures which consists in arranginga plurality of spiral springs in rows and connecting said rows togetherby simultaneously weaving helical lsprings into said spiral springs.

2. A method of fabricating spring assemblies which consists in arrangingspiral springs in rows, weaving a plurality of helical springs about thelower end portions of the springs of each row, reversing said spiralsprings and weaving a plurality of heli- -cal springs about the endportions of said 'spiral springs opposite to mechanism adapted to directhelicals into the space between said spacers l"i0 said first named endportions.

3. A method of fabricating spring assemblies, which consists inarranging spiral springs in adjacent yparallel rows and weavmg avhelical spring about end portions of the spiral springs of adjacent rowsby a continuous rotary movementof said helical spring 4. In a devicesemblies comprising a platform, spring retaining members thereon, afeeding device for containing helical springs 'and means for'continuously rotating said helical springs for advancing the samebetween rowsV of said retaining members.

5. In an apparatus for fabricating wire assemblies, means for supportingwire units in rows, with portions of said units adjacent cach other, afeeding device for holding a helical, means for rotating and advancingsaid helical to cause the same to encircle the said portions of saidunits adjacent to each other.

6. In an apparatus for fabricating spring 7. In an apparatus forfabricating springl assemblies, an endless belt, means for operatingsaid belt, a plurality of spacer members between the runs of said belt,feeding and into frictional engagement with said belt and means on saidfeeding mechanism for advancing said helicals when the same are rotatedby said belt.

8. In an apparatus for fabricatingspring assemblies, a feeding devicecomprising a box likevmember provided with a plurality of parallelgrooves for receiving helicals and a projection extending inwardly fromthe wall of each of said the coils of said helicals for advancing thehelicals when the same are rotated.

9. In an apparatus for fabricating spring assemblies, a belt spacingdevice comprising a plurality of spacer members adapted to be insertedbetween the runs of an endless belt, said spacers being provided withoppositely inclined surfaces-:adjacent one end for Haring the edges ofsaid belt at one side thereof.

10. In an apparatus for fabricating spring assemblies, means forrotating a helical comprising an endless belt, a support for saidhelical and means for holding said belt in engagement with operation ofsaid belt, said means comprising a roller vhaving a tapered end.

11. Ari apparatus for fabricating spring assemblies comprising asupport, means on said support for holding spiral springs, 130

for fabricating spring as- 75 a plurality ofl 4 grooves for engaging 1msaid helical during the weaving mechanism for weaving helieals aboutportions of said springs and means for rotatin said helicals, said meanscomprising a mem r moving in one direction and in contact 'with one sideof each of said helicals.

1'2. In an apparatus for yfabricating spring assemblies, means forholding-a plurality of spiral springs in. rows, a fee ingdevicecontaining a plurality of helicals, weaving mechanism comprisingan endless belt, spacer members between the runs of said belt and spacedapart to receive said helieals, said inner edges of the belt flaredspond with the .in said device spacer members being increased inthickness and inclined at their inner ends to hold the outwardly, aplurality of rollers above and below the upper and lower runs of saidbelt, respectively, said rollers being ta red to correlare of said elt,and means for advancing said helicals when the same are advanced.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

vClIARLEs D. KARR.

